I told him that my opinion was that the crisis had passed, at least so far as that the war of invasion would end with the campaign[1190]." Reporting the interview to Slidell in much the same language, Mason wrote: "My own impressions derived from the whole interview are, that [while] P.is as well satisfied as I am, that the separation of the States is final and the independence of the South an accomplished fact, the Ministry fears to move under the menaces of the North[1191]." Slidell's comment was bitter: "I am very much obliged for your account of your interview with Lord Palmerston.

It resulted very much as I had anticipated excepting that his Lordship appears to have said even less than I had supposed he would.

However, the time has now arrived when it is comparatively of very little importance what Queen or Emperor may say or think about us.

A plague, I say, on both your Houses[1192]." Slidell's opinion from this time on was, indeed, that the South had nothing to expect from Europe until the North itself should acknowledge the independence of the Confederacy.

July 21, _The Index_ expressed much the same view and was equally bitter.